MUNICIPAL POLLS

BNP to form monitoring cells

BNP yesterday decided to form election monitoring cells at central and divisional levels to oversee the forthcoming municipality polls scheduled for December 30.
The decision was taken at a party standing committee meeting at BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia’s Gulshan office. The party chief chaired the meeting.
As per decision, party acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir will head the central monitoring cell while joint secretary general Mohammed Shajahan will act as its member-secretary, according to meeting sources.
The two-hour long meeting, which began at 8:30pm, discussed the latest development in the political arena, civic polls and organisational matters sources said.
The meeting highlighted different “irregularities” in the election process, withdrawal of rebels’ candidatures and sharing of mayoral posts with the BNP’s key alliance partner Jamaat-e-Islami.
Senior party leaders entrusted the responsibility to ensure withdrawal of rebel candidature and sharing of mayoral posts for suitable Jamaat candidates through discussion for the sake of fielding common candidate of the 20-party alliance.
The chairperson herself will deal specially the matter of mayoral post sharing with Jamaat candidates if the local leaders of both the parties fail to do it, insiders said.
Briefing reporters, the BNP acting secretary said the meeting expressed apprehension over the holding of the civic polls in a free and fair manner and called upon the government, Election Commission and police administration to ensure a level playing field.
He said since the BNP is a democratic party, it is taking part in the polls to restore and protect democracy.
“District and upazila leaders will oversee the municipal polls in their respective areas and coordinate with the central and divisional level monitoring cells,” he said
 The BNP leader criticised the EC for appointing deputy commissioners and UNOs as returning officers what he said in an attempt to manipulate the polls.

MUNICIPAL POLLS

BNP to form monitoring cells

BNP yesterday decided to form election monitoring cells at central and divisional levels to oversee the forthcoming municipality polls scheduled for December 30. The decision was taken at a party standing committee meeting at BNP chairperson Khaleda Zias Gulshan office. The party chief chaired the meeting. As per decision, party acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir will head the central monitoring cell while joint secretary general Mohammed Shajahan will act as its member-secretary, according to meeting sources. The two-hour long meeting, which began at 8:30pm, discussed the latest development in the political arena, civic polls and organisational matters sources said. The meeting highlighted different irregularities in the election process, withdrawal of rebels candidatures and sharing of mayoral posts with the BNPs key alliance partner Jamaat-e-Islami. Senior party leaders entrusted the responsibility to ensure withdrawal of rebel candidature and sharing of mayoral posts for suitable Jamaat candidates through discussion for the sake of fielding common candidate of the 20-party alliance. The chairperson herself will deal specially the matter of mayoral post sharing with Jamaat candidates if the local leaders of both the parties fail to do it, insiders said. Briefing reporters, the BNP acting secretary said the meeting expressed apprehension over the holding of the civic polls in a free and fair manner and called upon the government, Election Commission and police administration to ensure a level playing field. He said since the BNP is a democratic party, it is taking part in the polls to restore and protect democracy. District and upazila leaders will oversee the municipal polls in their respective areas and coordinate with the central and divisional level monitoring cells, he said The BNP leader criticised the EC for appointing deputy commissioners and UNOs as returning officers what he said in an attempt to manipulate the polls.